> THOUGHT THIS WAS INTERESTING AND WORTH SHARING. SANDE > > Surnames----- > > > > In the NE part of Westphalia near Guetersloh, Bielefeld and Herford ( and maybe > > others) our ancestors had a very practical method of heredity. > > > > A couple sometime had a child or 2 to be sure that they were able to reproduced. > > In the church records this child was identified as "before the marriage". I t > > was most important to have children to help with the work on the farm and for the > > family to exist. > > > > When a couple had a heredity right to a small part of the land, it was often > > the youngest son that would inherit the property. Can't think of the word at the > > moment but it is the opposite of primogeniture. > > > > For several reason > > > > 1 When the oldest son was ready to marry and set up a household the parents were > > not ready to "retire" and give up the main house to the new family and move into > > a smaller house on the property. > > The parents tried to marry the older sons to the daughters of another farm family > > who had no son, only a daughter. That son then took the name of the wife's family > > and became the heir. Thus in some records you will find the name "Johann Braun, > > called Schmidt" or "also known as ". But then the children will carry the > > surname of Schmidt, after the family of the mother. > > > > 2 If the older sons have no prospective heirs to marry , (daughters of other > > farms) the family would then try to provide another occupation. > > > > 3 my Gt. gr. f had an older brother who was sent to Am in the early 1840s who > > settle in St. louis. He had to learn English as the govt was not bilingual > > (Spanish-Am) at that time, > > He served in the Mex. War. Came back to St. l. Started a dry goods store and > > eventually was Pres. of the German American Bank in St. Louis on 4th & about > > Olive(?). > > > > 4 my Gt. gr. father was sent to Switzerland to learn watchmakeing in 1856 . He > > then came to St. louis in 1857 and opened a jewellery in the ground level of a > > hotel near the old cathedral. .After a few years he was able to move to the great > > North St. Louis German area n